After doing a little digging about Michigan involvement in the Civil War,
I found many units that came from Michigan. The one that caught my
attention was one that was organized here in Ypsilanti. Here is the
regimental history:
The Fourteenth was organized at Ypsilanti under the supervision of Colonel
Robert P. Sinclair, mustering into the service of the United States on the
13th of February, 1862 with an enrollment of 925 officers and men. The
Fourteenth left the state on the 17th of April for St. Louis, Mo., joining
General Grant's army at Pittsburgh Landing, Tenn. It participated in the Seige
of Corinth, Miss., and when the Confederates evacuated that city, the
Fourteenth formed a part of General Buell's army, in the famous race with the
Confederate army, under General Bragg, to Louisville, Ky. It went no farther
than Nashville where it was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division of
the Fourteenth Corp, serving in that Corp throughout the remainder of the war.
In November the Regiment had a sharp encounter with Alabama troops at Lavergne,
Tenn., where it captured a fort and took a large number of prisoners. After a
series of marches and victories the Regiment was at Stone River, Tenn., where
in January 1863, it took part in that famous engagement.
The following March, Henry R. Mizner, a captain in the regular army was
commissioned Colonel of the Regiment, Colonel Sinclair having resigned. The
Fourteenth was on active duty during the summer at Franklin, Brentwood and
Nashville, TN., where Colonel Mizner mounted his Regiment by securing horses
from the local farms, along with sufficient mules to move his transports and
ambulances without calling on the government for an animal.
His entire district was infested with guerilla bands and he pursued them so
relentlessly that he killed or captured most of them, driving the remaining
balance out of the state.
After the area was cleared of the lawless bands of guerrillas, peace reined as
far as his troops could extend, causing many of the inhabitants to take the
oath of allegiance to the United States.
In January, 1864, the Regiment veteranized, with 414 men re-enlisting with the
understanding and promise that they would continue their service as cavalry or
mounted infantry. The companies came home by detachments on veteran furlough as
the entire Regiment could not be spared as a whole. After the expiration of
their 30 days furloughs the Regiment returned to Nashville on the 16th of May.
A bitter disappointment greeted them on their return as a sweeping general
order had been issued to dismount the Regiment, causing the organization to
serve once again as infantry. Much dissatisfaction followed and Colonel Mizner
made a vigorous protest against the order; but, while the efficiency of his
command was recognized, he failed to get the order revoked, submitting as
gracefully as possible to the inevitable.
The Fourteenth joined General Sherman's army at Dallas, Ga. the 4th of June,
where it took an active part in the Atlanta Campaign, being engaged with the
Southern forces at Kenesaw Mountain, the Chattahoochie River, then the Seige of
Atlanta.
When General Sherman made his flanking movement around Atlanta, the Fourteenth
distinguished itself by a brilliant charge at Jonesboro, breaking the
Confederate line, being the first Union troops to take possession of the
Confederate works. In this charge the Fourteenth captured General Govan, of
Cleburn's division, along with his entire staff, four pieces of artillery, also
the colors of the First Arkansas including 300 of its men.
After the fall of Atlanta the Fourteenth was with Sherman's March to the Sea,
reaching Savannah, Ga., on the 16th of November. Upon the surrender of
Savannah, the Regiment marched through South Carolina, crossing the Savannah
River at Sister's Ferry, then through North Carolina, crossing around the
Confederate lines while skirmishing at several points; then meeting strong
resistance at Averysboro.
The Brigade to which the Fourteenth belonged was ordered to charge the
Confederate works, carrying the first line; but, were unable to take the main
line. The Brigade held its position, expecting to resume the engagement the
next morning, when it was found the Southern forces had retreated. The Regiment
suffered severely in this engagement.
The following day the Fourteenth followed the Confederates closely until
Bentonville was reached, where they made a determined effort to shake off their
foes. General Johnston and Hardee massed their forces, then made a series of
desperate charges upon the Union lines. The Confederates were received with a
destructive fire and were repeatedly driven back, only to return, until the
union forces jumped over their works, charging the Confederates, causing a
total rout, capturing a large number of officers and men with a large quantity
of small arms. In the meantime the southern forces appeared in the rear of the
Union lines; whereupon the Fourteenth faced about, then charged the
Confederates, when after a hand to hand struggle, drove them from the field
with great loss in killed and wounded with a large number captured. This was
the last severe battle of the Fourteenth and of General Sherman's army.
The Fourteenth marched to Goldsboro, where it remained until April 10th, then
started for Raleigh, N.C. It marched to Richmond from there and thence to
Washington, D.C., where on the 18th of May it took part along with the rest of
General Sherman's army in the Grand Review held on the 24th. The Regiment was
then sent to Louisville, Ky., where it was mustered out of service on July
18th, then sent to Detroit where it arrived on the 21st. It was paid off and
disbanded on July 29, 1865.
Here is my take on a soldier that may have fought in that unit.
After seeing some pictures of Sherman's Armies in Georgia, most of them didn't
wear the brass on the hats, so I took that off. Also, I seem to remember the
red dirt in Georgia, so I gave him a paint so that he looked like that.
After seeing some pictures of Sherman's Armies in Georgia, most of them didn't
wear the brass on the hats, so I took that off. Also, I seem to remember the
red dirt in Georgia, so I gave him a paint so that he looked like that.
